Cavan flyweight Ceire Smith, pictured above having her hand raised in victory today, and Roscommon middleweight Aoife O’Rourke made it three wins from three for Ireland at the World Women’s Championships in New Delhi, India this morning.
Smith saw off Bulgaria’s European Elite bronze medalist Gabriela Dimitrova on a 3-2 split – 30-27,30-27,29-28 – 27-30,28-29 – after three close rounds in the flyweight class.
And O’Rourke, who was making her World Elite debut at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, scored a landslide 30-25,30-25,30-26,30-27,30-25 win over Ya Chu Yang of Taipei.
Yang took three standing counts in the second and third rounds with O’Rourke dominating.
Meanwhile, Michaela Walsh made if four on the bounce on a 4-1 split decision over Romania’s Lacramiora Perijoc.
The Belfast feather started superbly and dominated the first minute of the 57kg clash with Perijoc struggling to get inside Walsh’s longer reach. The second and third frames, with Perijoc aggressively working hard on the inside at every opportunity, were tight, but Walsh’s superior accuracy and cleaner work off both hands saw her deservedly through to the last 16 versus Italy.
(Image courtesy of Tibor Kincses)
AIBA WORLD WOMEN’S ELITE CHAMPIONSHIPS NEW DELHI, INDIA
November 16
Last 32
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) beat Troy Garton (New Zealand) 5-0
November 17
Last 32
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) beat Gabriela Dimitrova Bulgaria) 3-2
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) beat Lacramiora Perijoc (Romania) 4-1
64kg Amy Broadhurst (Ireland) v Ekaterina Dynnik (Russia)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) beat Ya Chu Yang (Taipei) 5-0
November 18
Last 16
60kg Kellie Harrington (Ireland) v Sarita Devi (India)
69kg Grainne Walsh (Ireland) v Noella Perez (Argentina)
November 19
Last 16
51kg Ceire Smith (Ireland) v Namiki Tukimi (Japan)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Ireland) v Alessia Mesiano (Italy)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Ireland) v Lauren Price (Wales)
Irish squad
51kg Ceire Smith (Virginia)
57kg Michaela Walsh (Monkstown)
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s)
64kg Amy Broadhurst (Dealgan)
69kh Grainne Walsh (Sparticus)
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)
Team manager: Bernard Dunne
Coaches: Zaur Antia & Dmitry Dimitruk
Physio: Muireann Harte